Euphorbia milii plant named &#39;2004-8&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new distinct cultivar of  Euphorbia milii  plant named ‘2004-8’, characterized by its compact, globular, upright plant habit; very dense and bushy plant form, mainly due to upright stems; large number of long stemmed flowers per plant due to 6 to 9 cm in length yellow-green peduncles, with gray-brown mottling towards base; striking color combinations of light red (pink) bracts (when opening RHS 36C, RHS 54A when fully opened) and staminate cyathia with yellow glands (RHS 9A) to green-yellow glands (RHS 1C) during development; and large, obovate, leaves (yellow-green, RHS 144A when young and green, RHS 137A when mature).

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Euphorbia milii

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘2004-8’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Euphorbia milii plant, botanically known as Euphorbia milli Desmoul., commonly known by the name Crown of Thorns, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘2004-8’.

The new Euphorbia milii is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor, Steen Thomsen, in Haarslev, Fyn, Denmark. The new Euphorbia milii originated from a cross made in November of 2003 by the Inventor between an unnamed, unpatented seedling plant of an Euphorbia milii Desmoul. cultivar and an unnamed, unpatented seedling plant of an Euphorbia laphogona cultivar. The Inventor selected the new Euphorbia milii cultivar as a single flowering plant from the progeny of the above crossing in January of 2004 on the basis of its flower color combination, large leaves and upright, compact plant habit. Plants of the new Euphorbia milii have upright, compact plant habit, and produce large, abundant inflorescence with pink floral bracts.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed in February of 2004 by terminal cuttings taken and propagated and trial production batches in Hjortebjerg, Denmark, has demonstrated that the combination of unique features as disclosed herein for this new Euphorbia milii cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘2004-8’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘2004-8’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Compact, globular, upright plant habit;

2. Very dense and bushy plant form, mainly due to upright stems;

3. Large number of long stemmed flowers per plant due to 6 to 9 cm in length yellow-green peduncles, with gray-brown mottling towards base;

4. Striking color combinations of light red (pink) bracts (when opening RHS 36C, RHS 54A when fully opened) and staminate cyathia with yellow glands (RHS 9A) to green-yellow glands (RHS 1C) during development; and

5. Large, obovate, leaves (yellow-green, RHS 144B when young and green, RHS 137A when mature).

Plants of the cultivar ‘2004-8’ can be compared to plants of the Euphorbia milii cultivar ‘Eros’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,413). In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Haarslev, Denmark, plants of the new cultivar ‘2004-8’ and the comparison cultivar ‘Eros’ differ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of ‘2004-8’ are shorter, wider and more compact (length about 13 cm, spread about 22 cm), than plants of ‘Eros’ (height about 15 cm; spread about 17 cm);

2. Plants of ‘2004-8’ have striking color combinations of light red (pink) bracts (when opening RHS 36C and RHS 54A when fully opened) and staminate cyathia with yellow glands (RHS 9A) to green-yellow glands (RHS 1C) during development, whereas plants of ‘Eros’ have bright red bracts (when opening RHS 42B and RHS 45C when fully opened) and staminate with cyathia orange glands (RHS N25A) to red glands (RHS 43C) during development;

3. Plants of ‘2004-8’ produce about 100 to 120 flowers and bud per plant and about 6 to 8 flowers open per week per plant, whereas plants of ‘Eros’ produce about 60 flowers and buds per plant and about 1 to 4 flowers open per week per plant;

4. Plants of ‘2004-8’ produce few lateral branches whereas plants of ‘Eros’ are freely branching, and the lateral branches of ‘2004-8’ are shorter and thinner (length about 3 cm, width about 4 cm) than lateral branches of ‘Eros’ (length about 6 cm, width about 6.5 mm);

5. Plants of ‘2004-8’ produce less leaves per lateral branch (about 7) than plants of ‘Eros’ which produce about 10 leaves per lateral branch, and the leaves of ‘2004-8’ are longer and wider (length about 10 cm, width about 40 mm) than leaves of ‘Eros’ (length about 7 cm, width about 30 mm); and

6. Plants of ‘2004-8’ have longer and sturdier peduncles (6 to 9 cm) than plants of ‘Eros’ (3 to 4 cm).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance and details of flower form, color and structures of the new cultivar ‘2004-8’, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in color reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which more accurately describe the actual colors of the new Euphorbia milii.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective comparing a typical, potted flowering plant of the new cultivar ‘2004-8’ (one the left) to a typical, potted flowering plant of the comparison cultivar ‘Eros’ (on the right), both grown in 11 cm pots.

FIG. 2 shows a top view perspective comparing a typical, potted flowering plant of the new cultivar ‘2004-8’ (one the left) to a typical, potted flowering plant of the comparison cultivar ‘Eros’ (on the right), both grown in 11 cm pots.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of young and mature floral cymes of a typical flowering plant of the new cultivar ‘2004-8’.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of different size leaves of a typical flowering plant of the new cultivar ‘2004-8’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the new cultivar ‘2004-8’ have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, day length, and fertility level without, however, any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of the new cultivar ‘2004-8’ as grown in a glass greenhouse in Fyn, Denmark, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Plants of ‘2004-8’ were grown in a greenhouse with the day temperature range of 21° C. to 24° C. and the night temperature range of 20° C. to 21° C. Plants of ‘2004-8’ were grown in full light, and no photoperiodic treatments or growth retardants were used. For flower induction, plants of ‘2004-8’ are subjected to high irradiance conditions and a constant temperature of 24° C.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS), 4^(th) edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for this description were grown for about 17 weeks after cutting and produced in 6 cm pots. Other pot sizes can be used and the plants are intended for indoor use or as a bedding plant in temperate climates while it is a perennial garden plant in tropical and subtropical areas.

-   Botanical classification: Euphorbia milii Desmoul. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Unnamed, unpatented seedling plant of             Euphorbia milii Desmoul.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed, unpatented seedling plant of             Euphorbia lophogona. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings taken from plants             kept in the vegetative stage by shading and high             temperatures (25° C.).         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 to 14 days at 18° C. to             21° C. in tunnels in a greenhouse.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous, well branched.         -   Root color.—Gray-white, RHS 157C. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Perennial plant with upright plant habit. Euphorbia             milii ‘2004-8’ flowers in cymes with 5 cyathia subtended by             5 glands and 2 colored bracts.         -   Crop time.—After rooting, about 16 to 18 weeks are required             to produce finished flowering plants in 11 cm pots.         -   Vigor.—Moderately vigorous growth rate.         -   Plant size.—Height (soil level to top of plant plane): About             13 cm. Width: About 22 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Freely branching with about 3 lateral             flowering branches forming at every node; dense and bushy.             Lateral branches measure between 3 to 5 cm in length and             about 5 mm in diameter. Internode length measures about             8 mm. About 2 to 4 buds per lateral stem and about 4 to 6             flowers per lateral stem. Stems are square to pentagonal             with thorned ridges — about 15 mm thick at the base. Aspect             of stem is upright, with lateral branches at about 45°.             Young stem color is yellow-green, RHS 144A, and gray-green,             RHS 197A. By each node appears a group of thorns: 1 large             (1 cm) and 2 to 4 small (2 to 4 mm). Young thorns are soft             and gray-purple, RHS 187B with gray-green base, RHS 191B,             while the older thorns becomes stiffer and change color to             gray-brown, RHS N199B.         -   Foliage description.—Leaves alternate, single, obovate in             shape, entire margin and pinnate venation. Length: About             10 cm. Width: About 40 mm. Apex: Rounded. Base: Cuneate.             Texture: smooth, waxy, dull, and glabrous. Color: Young             foliage: (upper side): Yellow-green, RHS 144B; (under side):             Yellow-green, RHS N144D. Mature foliage: (upper side):             Yellow-green, RHS 137A; (under side): Yellow-green             (uniform), RHS 144B. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Venation             color: (upper side): Yellow-green, RHS 144B; (under side):             Yellow-green, RHS 144C.. Petiole length: About 3 mm. Petiole             diameter: About 2 mm. Petiole color: Yellow-green, RHS 144C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Floral arrangements composed             of diachasic cymes. The flowers (cyathia) are reduced so             only a gland and the reproductive organs are present.             Subtending the cyathia are two colored bracts. The flowers             are further complicated by the unique feature of cone to             funnel shaped floral buds appearing at the base of the             bracts in two or more layers.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous throughout the spring             and summer in subtropical and tropical regions. In colder             climates season, can be extended by greenhouse production             with high temperatures and supplementary irradiance.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About 5 to 9 weeks. However,             longevity of individual flowers is highly dependent on             temperature and light conditions. Bracts turn green with             age. Entire cymes drop after withering.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—About 100 to 200.         -   Rate of flower opening.—About 6 to 8 per week.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6×8 cm Height: 10 to 12             cm.         -   Buds: Cone to funnel shape, measures about 7 mm in length             and about 6 mm in diameter, color: gray-yellow, between RHS             160C to RHS 160D.         -   Flowers.—Round shape, upright aspect, about 5 mm in diameter             and about 1 mm in height (depth).         -   Bracts.—2, opposite, partly overlapping at base, ovoid to             inverted cordate shape with obcordate tip, about 17 mm in             length and about 24 mm in width, color when opening: (upper             side) light red (pink), RHS 36C; (underside) pale             yellow-green, RHS 150D, color when fully opened: (upper             side): light red (pink), RHS 54A; (under side) light             red-purple, RHS 65D, with red-purple edges, RHS 67C, color             fading to red-purple, RHS 61D, mottled with yellow-green,             RHS 149B to RHS 149C.         -   Glands.—Flower (cyanthium) subtended by 5 conspicuous             glands. Color from yellow, RHS 9A to green-yellow, RHS 1C             during development.         -   Peduncles.—Length measuring from 6 to 9 cm, diameter             measuring about 4 mm, angle about 45°, strong in strength,             color: yellow-green, RHS 144A, with base mottled gray-brown,             RHS N 199C.         -   Pedicel.13 Length measuring from 2 to 3 cm, diameter             measuring about 3 mm, angle about 45°, strong in strength,             color: yellow-green, RHS 144A, with base mottled gray-brown,             RHS N 199C. -   Reproductive organs: -   Androecium:     -   -   Stamen.—5 (appears after flower matures).         -   Anthers.—Globular shape measuring about 1 to 2 mm,             yellow-orange color, RHS 15A.         -   Pollen.—Plentiful, yellow-orange color, RHS 15A. -   Gynoecium:     -   -   Pistil.—Appears before cyathia mature; one, tripartite             pistil measuring about 2 mm in length; stigma tripartite             with split ends, and color RHS 1C, greenish-yellow; style             measuring about 1 to 3 mm in length and color, RHS 1D,             greenish-yellow; ovary color, RHS 149D, yellow-green.         -   Seeds/Fruit.—None observed.         -   Weather tolerance.—Plants of the new Euphorbia milii             cultivar have exhibited good tolerance to draught, rain and             wind; however, flowering may cease during cold and dark             periods when temperatures are below +15° C.         -   Pest/Disease tolerance/susceptibility.—Plants of the new             Euphorbia milii have exhibited good tolerance to following             fungi: Mildew and Thivaliopsis. Also, they appear to be less             infected by Thrips (Franklinellea). 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Euphorbia milii plant named ‘2004-8’, as illustrated and described herein. 